The Social Constructions Of Vaginal Practices In Indonesia: The Use Of Traditional Remedies To Dry And Tighten The Vagina

Vaginal drying practices are known to contribute to susceptibility to sexually transmitted infections, and are likely to shape patterns of gendered interactions that may seriously disadvantage women. These practices have not been adequately documented in Southeast Asia. In this paper the gender constructions of vaginal drying practices in Indonesia will be addressed and analysed. Vaginal drying practices are defined as any practices or attempt to make the vagina dry, tighter- peret, and any attempts to make the vagina have a stronger grips. Various ways can be conducted: drinking traditional herbal remedies-Jamu, inserting herbal traditional remedies into the vagina, inserting Tongkat Madura (a rod of calcium carbonate), vagina grooming and treatment, gurah vagina-deep cleansing and rinsing of the vagina and vigina operations. The social-cultural construction and belief is that drying the vagina either by using traditional herbal remedies, various vagina treatments and or by vaginal operations will enhance sexual love making and hence will make the husband/partner very happy. Men are also demanding to have sex with a partner whose vagina is dry, tight and has a strong muscle suction ability. Unfortunately, studies on the psychological motivations and health impacts of such practices are still rare. Thus even though traditional herbals may be widespread; there is very little research available on the efficacy, contraindications or potential ill effects of using such preparations. It is assumed that a number of practices can increase the likelihood of acquiring infections, some of which like HIV are very serious and even fatal. This paper will be based on preliminary findings from the 2005 qualitative research that has been conducted in Indonesia. In-depth interviews as well as focus group discussions were conducted to reveal various practices of dry sex, the psychological motivations of such practices, how do people perceived of such practices, how such practices vary over